Have'nt read the novelization, but someday I intend to. I was amazed at how violent and dark the movie was.
R2D2 is indeed awesome.
I was glad that Jar-Jar Binks didn't get a speaking part. Whoever played Palpatine did an awesome job. Hayden Christenson's acting has improved too.
I thought that Anakin's transition to the dark side happened a little quick. One moment he's all "what have I done??", the next moment he's "I'll do whatever you want." When he killed the younglings, I felt that it was a little too early, and he hadn't sunk to that level yet. When we first saw the younglings in episode II, I figured Anakin would kill them in an indirect way, like perhaps blowing up the temple.
I too liked the way that Anakin/Vader cried. It was touching after all that violence to see a tear in his yellow Sith eyes.
Everyone seemed to hate the similarities between Darth Vader and Frankenstien, but I kinda liked it. Frankenstien was after all, the first science fiction story. And it made sense that Darth Vader would have to adjust to his new legs.
I was still under the impression that Obi-Wan only cut off Anakin's legs, but people seem to keep saying that he lost his organic hand as well. Is this true?